Jemma Smith Furnishing: Bright Ideas: Lighting for Every Room

When form and function come together in fresh, new ways, it’s such a delight to see. How true that is when it comes to the latest trends in lighting. From the illuminating use of materials to cool twists on tradition, the bright concepts keep coming.

Have a room that’s overlooked? You can put the spotlight on style—easily and affordably—through the power of light. Rest assured, you’ll find no shortage of inspiration.

Here are just a few of our favorite looks…

LIGHTING FOR ENTRYWAYS

Serving as a “transitional space” between inside and out, entryways are naturally suited for open-and-airy light fixtures. More and more, we're seeing minimalistic cage and globe pendant lights. Crafted of metal or wood, they've got an easy-breezy aesthetic that's just right for the entryway.

If you've got the ceiling height to accommodate (note, the bottom of a light fixture should hang no less than seven feet off the floor), a pendant can make just the right statement.

LIGHTING FOR DINING ROOMS

Let's face it. Things are a lot more casual than they used to be. Formal dining rooms are becoming a thing of the past. Today, it's all about open concept living, multifunctional spaces and room flow. What does that mean for lighting?

Even where we do see designated dining rooms, tastes in light fixtures have lightened up considerably. Gone are heavy, ornate chandeliers. The looks are cleaner, simpler and more transparent. Sometimes they're more eclectic, too. A modern light fixture accompanied by a more formal dining room set can be quite a tasteful twist.

warm dining room table set with three cabinet buffet

LIGHTING FOR KITCHENS

Talk about an industrial revolution. When it comes to lighting, industrial-inspired fixtures are everywhere, and they look especially cool in the kitchen. Kitchens are the heart of a home, and islands are the heart of the kitchen, making them a central focus. Here are some of our favorite farmhouse industrial lighting ideas.

Long, rectangular pendants with ceiling mounts are perfect for kitchen islands/breakfast bars, and they're simpler to hang than opting for a series of pendant lights.

LIGHTING FOR LIVING/FAMILY ROOMS

Here's where things are off center in a good way. A growing trend: floating pendants over sofa end tables. Something to consider if you don't plan on rearranging your living/family room furniture anytime soon.

Another trend: hanging pendants/chandeliers over seating areas rather than in the center of the ceiling. The result…a more cozy, intimate ambiance.

LIGHTING FOR BEDROOMS

Yes, for the most part, we're simplifying our styles in lighting, but that doesn't mean there's no room for decadence. The bedroom is where we're really glamming it up. Chandeliers—placed at the head of or centered over a bed—are turning bedrooms into romantic retreats.

If you like the idea of pendant lights over sofa end tables, you might love them above bedroom nightstands. Beyond looking really cool, floating pendants mean you might not need table lamps, which can save quite a bit of surface space.